I was just reading yesterday about Peig Sayers (1873-1958) an illiterate Irish woman storyteller who had some 350 century old tales committed to memory.
I see folktales shaman's tales, fairy tales often as cautionary tales and also as emphasis on what a cultures considers important, good/bad, noble/dastardly, etc. For example Alaskan Eskimo tales tend to emphasize patience while Athabaskan's quickness, a generalization of course with notable exceptions.
Those who couldn’t rely on a piece of paper to remind them what they needed to say were the best story tellers! My grandfather was one of those people (though I don’t think he shared 350 tales with me).
I touched on Millman Parry’s oral formulaic theory in my Aeneid book club post. He offered a method that the oral poets used in order to memorize their tales. I’m writing about this stuff for my research paper for class, so I’m glad you shared this info on Peig Sayers with me! And thanks for sharing your folktale.
Folktales are definitely rich territory that could provide a lifetime of study and inspiration. I absolute love the notion that one can take the best real life stories from the people around us and weave them into modern folktales. I mean, ultimately, I would assume that is where the original folktales of yore were conjured from. Real life stories, woven into myth.
I was just reading yesterday about Peig Sayers (1873-1958) an illiterate Irish woman storyteller who had some 350 century old tales committed to memory.
I see folktales shaman's tales, fairy tales often as cautionary tales and also as emphasis on what a cultures considers important, good/bad, noble/dastardly, etc. For example Alaskan Eskimo tales tend to emphasize patience while Athabaskan's quickness, a generalization of course with notable exceptions.
Favorite folk tale? Here's one I heard from Eskimo friends down at the end of the Yukon River some years back; https://jiminalaska.substack.com/p/an-eskimo-shaman-story-or-why-you
Those who couldn’t rely on a piece of paper to remind them what they needed to say were the best story tellers! My grandfather was one of those people (though I don’t think he shared 350 tales with me).
I touched on Millman Parry’s oral formulaic theory in my Aeneid book club post. He offered a method that the oral poets used in order to memorize their tales. I’m writing about this stuff for my research paper for class, so I’m glad you shared this info on Peig Sayers with me! And thanks for sharing your folktale.
Folktales are definitely rich territory that could provide a lifetime of study and inspiration. I absolute love the notion that one can take the best real life stories from the people around us and weave them into modern folktales. I mean, ultimately, I would assume that is where the original folktales of yore were conjured from. Real life stories, woven into myth.
I completely agree. Nicely said!